- 2023 comes to an end.
- A final flutter from the Cocoon
- Hive Messenger
- Foundation: Our Classroom Family
- Year 1 and 2: The powerful means through which we convey our feelings to the world.
- Year 3: Character and Personality
- YEAR 4: A journey of exploration, creativity, and growth.
- The Homestead Team
- Minimbah represents at Interschool Chess Finals Series
2023 comes to an end.
As we reach the culmination of yet another enriching school year, I extend my deepest thanks to the incredible Woodleigh and Minimbah Community for the steadfast support bestowed upon us throughout 2023.
Reflecting on the span of 27 years, with 25 dedicated to steering the ship at Minimbah, I am moved and privileged to witness our school community's continual growth and flourishing. Embracing a new era of leadership that now encompasses both Junior Campuses of Woodleigh, I find genuine inspiration in the resilience and accomplishments of our youngest students. Their journey toward acquiring essential life skills fills me with hope for the future.
Each day, the tapestry of early childhood and primary school experience unfolds with a rich array of challenges, building resilience, forming friendships, and personal growth. It is a mighty undertaking, and I am grateful to witness the joy and magic permeating our school.
While my commitment to Minimbah remains steadfast, I eagerly anticipate overseeing the growth and development of both Junior Campuses. The future holds promise, and together, we will continue to shape learning environments that empower students to navigate the complexities and thrive in an ever-changing world.
To our Year 6 students, as they forge ahead on their pathway to secondary school, I extend my heartfelt best wishes. This has been a wonderful year filled with unforgettable experiences, and I wish each of you every success for the exciting future that awaits.
The Year 6 Dinner and Graduation marked memorable milestones for our students: evenings of wonderful celebration. The end of those primary years is in sight.
I eagerly anticipate our final assembly on Friday, December 8, where, as tradition goes, you may get a little wet!
As we bid farewell to this school year, I wish each and every member of the Woodleigh and Minimbah Community a joyous festive season and a summer filled with the genuine warmth of shared moments, relaxation, and the comforting company of those who matter most.
A final flutter from the Cocoon
It’s hard to believe we are in our final weeks in the Cocoon.
Kellie, Milly, Cathy, and I (Rachelle) wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to teach your children. We have cherished our days with them and as the time comes to an end, we will be sure to let them know how proud we are! We also thank you, our incredible families for your support and efforts in our program. Best wishes for a joyous Christmas filled with love, happiness, and prosperity!
How the World Works
The Cocoon children would like to share some learning experiences from their unit of Inquiry 'How the World Works.'
Their interest in Myth busters and change around us led to inquiry via science experiments, songs, trial and error, research and observations of patterns and cycles.
“Water can’t make anything explode. I have tried it in my backyard before, and it didn’t work. Only vinegar can make things erupt” Tom.
This led us to an experiment with the children. We used vinegar and bi-carb together, then a second experiment using water and citric acid with bi-carb.
“Yeah, I didn’t think it would” Noah.
“The vinegar made it bigger” Mila.
“The other one has more bubbles” Frankie.
“Totally busted!! Water can make things explode” Tom.
Colour experiment
Does hot water make the coloured water change any faster than other temperatures?
“The hot will make it evaporate” Tom.
“It will be slower” Luca.
We are inquirers who can learn through our curiosities. Through our experiments, we develop skills and have used critical and creative thinking to understand How the World Works.
“It pushes it up” Tom.
“And out quickly” Amelie.
“The hot moves it” Frankie.
“Faster than the cold” Mila.
“Maybe because it’s got steam” Noah.
This week we took some time at the end of our session to reflect on all the things we love about Nature play days…
“The walk is beautiful you see flowers and it makes you happy” Amelie.
“Nature is the best type of playground. You can climb, draw and jump” Tom.
“Making up games is fun” Elijah.
“I play Spidey” Walter.
“You can make necklaces from flowers” Oscar.
“We played fruit salad and limbo” Seb.
“Making huts is so much fun. I made a big one” Noah.
“Singing songs and making up music with sticks” Indiana.
“Climbing trees and being able to jump off them” Frankie.
“The walk is hard, but your legs get stronger, and you can do it” Valentina.
“Games” Arlo.
“Finding bugs and making bug houses” Luca.
“Running, finding sticks and playing on the boat” Spencer.
“Making up games, finding treasures and climbing trees”. Elle
“Climbing trees. I’m good at climbing trees now”. Aaren
“I used to not like it but now I play games with Frankie and Amelie. We can climb really high” Mila.
RACHELLE STEWART
Hive Messenger
Perspective, Connection, Change, Environment and Impact.
Throughout the Term, the Hive children have been exploring their natural environment and making new discoveries—many of which they wanted to record through art.
The children began to wonder how their surrounding environment may feel and asked questions such as.
“What would a flower say if it could talk?“
“Can flowers cry?“
"How does a flower feel?”
“How might it feel when we pick them?”
“How do they feel when we water or don’t water them?”
The central ideas and concepts from our Units of Inquiry, ‘Sharing the Planet’ and ‘Who we Are’ are linked perfectly with these interests, which you can see here.
We enjoyed exploring our ECC gardens and noticing the changes that were occurring. However, the curiosity to look beyond our gates was strong. We decided to go for a walk around the school and collect nature that we found interesting.
Using their observation skills, the children noticed the variety of textures, lines and shapes present in nature. They began developing representations of these through drawings and watercolour paintings. The educators wanted to extend the children’s skills further and asked an Artist who creates landscape paintings to come to visit and share her expertise.
Cath DeBoise, spent two sessions with us as an Artist in residence, teaching us skills in printing, painting, and collage. Cath and the class collaborated all the materials together to get a wide range of nature with different shapes and textures that could create a rich print. She provided a sequence of steps that encouraged the children to use of their fine motor skills to explore the natural print patterns with acrylic paints and dye. It was wonderful to observe the children exploring the techniques and becoming confident to share their ideas and processes with Cath and their peers.
The children created a range of works individually and a collaborative art piece that incorporated all the techniques learnt with Cath.
A collection of art pieces will be on display in the Minimbah office along with the Collaborative canvas, and please be sure to have a look and let us know what you think.
On behalf of The Hive children, Emma, Milly, and Heather would like to wish the Woodleigh community a happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas holiday break. We thank all our Hive families for their support and care throughout the year. It has been an honour to have spent this precious time with your children.
Thank you!
Foundation: Our Classroom Family
Foundation
The first year of primary school is a critical year of growth and change, and we are so proud of the Foundation 2023 children. They have become confident, capable Primary School students who are well-prepared for the learning journey ahead.
At the beginning of the year, we read the story ‘Our Class is a Family’ by Shannon Olsen and reflected on this story for our very first assembly. The story is written as a poem, and one of our favourite parts was-
So, if our classroom is the place where we spend our days,
why wouldn’t we make it like a home in many ways?
It’s a place we can show respect and kindness to each other,
a spot where we can be ourselves and make memories with one another.
We’ll have things in common,
These are the connections that we’ll seek.
But we will still celebrate our differences,
And what makes us each unique.
For our final class Messenger this year, I asked the children to reflect on their classroom ‘family’ and what they have learned about their classmates this year. I hope that you enjoy reading their reflections and take some time to celebrate this year with your child.
Sebastian is a good friend because he is great at playing with people and he is always nice to everyone and funny too. He tells us so much about cars because he is a car expert. He is a very, very good reader too.
We love that Lewis is really funny. He has funny jokes and cool actions. He is an awesome designer and maker, and he is really good at drawing. He is excellent at basketball too.
Peyton is so kind, and she always says nice things to people, and she always tries to help everyone in our class. She is a great singer and she is really good at music and drawing and gymnastics and aerobics.
We love that Teddy is really funny and he is really good at shooting hoops. He is so good at iPads and looking after babies. We like playing maths games with Teddy.
Austin is really funny, especially when making funny faces. He is good friend, and he helps you if you need help with hard work. He is very good at sports and numbers.
We love that Ezra is sporty and good at basketball. He asks if his friends are okay if they hurt themselves. He plays with boys and girls, and he is really kind.
Henni is really funny and makes crazy voices. She can even talk like a dolphin. She is really good at making cool things and maths. She makes awesome books and stories and is a good writer.
We love that Harvey likes animals and always tells us lots of cool stories about things. He always has good show and share at school. He is really good at monkey bars and rock climbing, and we will all remember going to Bayside Rock.
Aggie is kind. She helps people and plays with everyone. She is really good at gymnastics and doing bridges. She can even do warm-ups and the splits. Sometimes she is funny too.
Stevie is a caring friend who always helps people if they are hurt. We also love that she is kind and plays with everyone in our class. She is really helpful and does lots of jobs around our classroom.
We love that Flynn is really good at sports and running and a really good friend because if someone wants to play with him, he always says yes. He is really good at hula hoops. Flynn is so funny, and he makes us all laugh.
Joshua is funny, and he always smiles. He has great ideas and is super good at maths and basketball. He is really good at solving problems, like how many days it is until Christmas or what two really big numbers are when they are added together.
Lucy is really kind because she lets people play when they ask, and she is really smart at maths and reading. She always tries hard like learning to do the monkey bars this year. She didn't give up!
Isaac is very funny, knows a lot about dinosaurs and animals, and loves snakes. We love it when he shows us karate moves. He always wants to play and make cool stuff.
Maisy always checks on her friends to see if they are okay. She is really smart and has good ideas when we are playing. She is good at numbers and maths. She is also good at aerobics, and she is a great listener.
We love that Pearl is a kind friend who helps people when they are sad. She is good at maths games, and she is really fun to play with. She likes doing lots of jobs to help all of us.
Leo is funny and really fast. He is also good at basketball and helps his friends when we play. He is great at packing up and helping the teachers. He always offers to help.
Gemma is a really kind friend; she always offers to take people to the office or go to the toilet with them. She is also funny and makes really cool voices. She always helps everyone if they are hurt and says kind things.
Rose is a great friend because she helps people. She is so good at making things and creating beautiful pictures with lots of colours that go together. She plays with many people at school and includes people when they want to play.
Alfie is a good friend because he is helpful. He is really good at sports and basketball because he is really fast. He always wins our running races, and he is strong. He is kind and helps people when he can. He is fun to talk to.
Remi is funny because she does funny actions and voices. She asks if her friends are okay and checks what has happened if people are upset. She is really good at aerobics, gymnastics, and monkey bars. She has got really clever at reading too.
Dominic is good at basketball, and I like having him on our team. He is good at shooting goals. He is a good friend, and makes up good games at recess and lunchtime, like exploring and adventuring.
Thank you for being a part of our Classroom Family this year. We thank you all for your support and partnership and wish you a relaxing and safe break. See you in 2024!
Kind regards,
Jacqui, Jasmine & Rach
Year 1 and 2: The powerful means through which we convey our feelings to the world.
What have the Year 1 and 2 communities been up to lately?
As we near the end of another exciting unit of inquiry, we are thrilled to reflect on the journey our Year 1 and 2 students have undertaken in exploring 'How We Express Ourselves.' This unit has been a captivating exploration of emotions, creativity, and the powerful means through which we convey our feelings to the world.
Throughout the unit, the children delved into the fascinating world of expression, uncovering the ways in which emotions manifest through the elements of light, shadow, and sound.
Exploring light and shadow through hands-on activities and artistic expressions, our students have learned that shadows are not just silhouettes but reflections of emotion. Our learners have discovered the emotive power of music, rhythm, and spoken word. From creating their own musical compositions to exploring how different sounds evoke distinct emotions, the children have embarked on a sensory-rich exploration that has enhanced their appreciation for the role of sound in self-expression.
We are immensely proud of the growth and creativity displayed by our students throughout this unit. The depth of their reflections, the diversity of their creative projects, and the joy they've experienced in expressing themselves through light, shadow, and sound are truly commendable.
Literacy
Throughout the narrative writing unit, our students have explored the writing process. From crafting their characters to designing settings, their imagination has been awe-inspiring. We've witnessed adventures in faraway lands, encounters with fantastical creatures, and heartwarming tales that reflect the tender hearts within our classrooms. The growth we've seen in their ability to structure stories, use descriptive language, and build suspense is remarkable.
In the realm of poetry, our budding poets have explored the power of language to evoke emotions and paint vibrant pictures with words. They've experimented with various poetic forms, expressing their thoughts and feelings in unique ways.
Numeracy
In Years 1 and 2, I have dived into the world of money, learning not just the names and values of coins and notes but also how to make wise spending decisions. The children have gained a practical understanding of the importance of money in our daily lives.
Fractions can be tricky, but not for our Year 1 and 2 students! They've become masters at breaking down wholes into equal parts, exploring the concepts of halves, thirds, and quarters. From sharing snacks to dividing shapes, their hands-on experiences have solidified their grasp on the fundamental principles of fractions.
It’s been a great year of making connections and….sneaking in the learning EVERYWHERE! We wish you all a safe and happy holidays and look forward to seeing you all in 2024.
Best wishes,
Liane and Lexi
Year 3: Character and Personality
As teachers, there are certain moments during the year that stand out as highlight examples of learning and joy. The Assembly in Week 8 was a perfect example. Witnessing the Year 3s come together as a unified, efficient team to present their classroom experiences was truly heart-warming. Each student infused their unique character and personality into the planning, writing, and presenting of their learning journey.
The behind-the-scenes efforts were equally impressive. Students supported one another by rehearsing lines during recess, organising costumes for their peers, and even creating a ‘Jumanji’ logo during lunchtime club. Their dedication to refining poetry submissions and encapsulating their numeracy and literacy learning highlighted their commitment. The camaraderie and kindness displayed by each student contributed to making the Assembly a successful event at a bustling time of year, a feat that should fill them with pride.
I feel the students' personal accounts are excellent reflections on our learning, so included here are selected excerpts and slides from the Assembly here.
YEAR 4: A journey of exploration, creativity, and growth.
I reflect on this year with a blend of joy and nostalgia. This final term with your incredible children has been a journey of exploration, creativity, and growth.
Language
A focus of our language learning this term revolved around the enchanting world of poetry. Students delved into various forms, including haiku, nonsense, descriptive, and concrete poetry. This exploration was not just an exercise in language arts but a doorway to understanding deeper concepts. Each poetic form brought out unique aspects of expression, with haiku teaching brevity and the power of nature, nonsense poetry unlocking the fun in language, descriptive poetry enhancing observation skills, and concrete poetry merging visual art with the written word.
Unit of Inquiry
Linking seamlessly with our language lessons was our unit of inquiry, centred around the idea that people use nature as a source of creative inspiration. This unit saw our students engage deeply with the natural world, exploring how it fuels creativity. They used their newfound knowledge of poetry to express nature's influence, weaving words that painted pictures of the environment around us. Their understanding of the creative process was enhanced as they observed how nature could spark ideas, leading to beautiful, tangible outcomes. To connect this learning with the real world, students have been creating products inspired by nature to sell at the Arty Market, combining their learning from our language unit and our unit of inquiry.
Mathematics
Our mathematics sessions this term have been hands-on, lively and, again, linked to our broader unit of inquiry, as students learnt about symmetry and pattern and the mathematics that exists in nature. We ventured into the world of fractions and decimals, understanding equivalence, tenths, and hundredths. Students visualised these abstract concepts using concrete materials, linking them to real-world applications. Their enthusiasm peaked when we incorporated art into math, inspired by Ed Emberley's illustrations. These sessions demonstrated how mathematics is not just numbers and operations but a language that describes our world in beautiful patterns and relationships.
James Clapham
The Homestead Team
2023 is drawing to a close, yet the 5/6 Homestead is still humming with activity as we prepare for some significant end-of-year events. As we write this, the Year 6 Graduation is fast approaching on the 5th of December, and the Year 5 Art Gallery, The Archihairs, will be open on the afternoon of the 4th of December.
The entire Homestead engaged in the inquiry unit ‘How We Express Ourselves’ this term. It has taken us to the Archibald exhibition at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, immersed us in the art of writing poems and odes, made us smash plates, and allowed us to explore ourselves and our values creatively.
In amongst all this, we found time to escape to the country as we embarked on the Year 5/6 Homestead Camp at the Coonawarra Farm Resort. From flying across a lake on ziplines to descending into the mysterious Den of Nargun, we immersed ourselves in adventure, reflection, exertion, exhilaration, and, above all, fun!
Please enjoy this bumper edition of the Minimbah Homestead PODCAST created by Years 5 & 6 as they reflect on the final busy term of 2023.
For those returning next year, we can’t wait to see you again. For those journeying on from the familiar shores of Minimbah, we wish you safe travels and best wishes! Have a wonderful summer!
The Homestead Team
Jacqui, Jonno, Andy, Zara, Gabby, Jo & Georgy
Minimbah represents at Interschool Chess Finals Series
This term saw Woodleigh School being represented by Minimbah students at the Primary School Chess Finals, held by Northern Star Chess.
Zone Primary School Open Chess Semi Final
On the 25th of October, the following Minimbah students – Harry M and Max (Year 4), Brodie, Daniel and Henry (Year 5) and Oscar (Year 6) attended Karingal to compete in the Zone Primary School Open Chess Semi-Final. 100 students gathered at Karingal Primary School to earn a place in the Grand Final over the seven rounds played across the day. The boys should be proud of their efforts on the day and their excellent sportsmanship, both on and off the board. Unfortunately, none of the boys qualified for the next stage, but the fire is fuelled for next year’s competition. They are to be congratulated on placing 9th in the team rankings out of twenty-one teams.
L-R - Daniel, Harry, Max, Tim from Northern Star Chess, Brodie, Henry & Oscar
Primary Girls’ Chess State Final
Two days on from the Open Semi-Final, Minimbah chess players were at it again. Amy (Year 5) and Ella and Kat (Year 6) travelled to Balwyn North to compete in the Primary Girls’ Chess State Final. Once again, 100 competitors arrived to battle it across the chess boards. The girls are to be commended on their efforts, with them placing 14th as a team out of forty-one teams and Ella being awarded the best player of the round in Round 4. Special thanks to Corinne, Ella’s mum, for being their Chess chaperone and chauffeur for the day. An excellent effort.
L- R - Amy, Kat and Ella
Special certificates from Northern Star Chess were awarded to these students during a recent assembly to celebrate their efforts.
L- R Back; Oscar, Harry. M, Henry, Daniel and Max
L-R Front; Ella, Kat and Amy
Absent: Brodie
It’s hard to believe we are in our final weeks in the Cocoon.
Kellie, Milly, Cathy, and I (Rachelle) wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to teach your children. We have cherished our days with them and as the time comes to an end, we will be sure to let them know how proud we are! We also thank you, our incredible families for your support and efforts in our program. Best wishes for a joyous Christmas filled with love, happiness, and prosperity!
How the World Works
The Cocoon children would like to share some learning experiences from their unit of Inquiry 'How the World Works.'
Their interest in Myth busters and change around us led to inquiry via science experiments, songs, trial and error, research and observations of patterns and cycles.
“Water can’t make anything explode. I have tried it in my backyard before, and it didn’t work. Only vinegar can make things erupt” Tom.
This led us to an experiment with the children. We used vinegar and bi-carb together, then a second experiment using water and citric acid with bi-carb.
“Yeah, I didn’t think it would” Noah.
“The vinegar made it bigger” Mila.
“The other one has more bubbles” Frankie.
“Totally busted!! Water can make things explode” Tom.
Colour experiment
Does hot water make the coloured water change any faster than other temperatures?
“The hot will make it evaporate” Tom.
“It will be slower” Luca.
We are inquirers who can learn through our curiosities. Through our experiments, we develop skills and have used critical and creative thinking to understand How the World Works.
“It pushes it up” Tom.
“And out quickly” Amelie.
“The hot moves it” Frankie.
“Faster than the cold” Mila.
“Maybe because it’s got steam” Noah.
This week we took some time at the end of our session to reflect on all the things we love about Nature play days…
“The walk is beautiful you see flowers and it makes you happy” Amelie.
“Nature is the best type of playground. You can climb, draw and jump” Tom.
“Making up games is fun” Elijah.
“I play Spidey” Walter.
“You can make necklaces from flowers” Oscar.
“We played fruit salad and limbo” Seb.
“Making huts is so much fun. I made a big one” Noah.
“Singing songs and making up music with sticks” Indiana.
“Climbing trees and being able to jump off them” Frankie.
“The walk is hard, but your legs get stronger, and you can do it” Valentina.
“Games” Arlo.
“Finding bugs and making bug houses” Luca.
“Running, finding sticks and playing on the boat” Spencer.
“Making up games, finding treasures and climbing trees”. Elle
“Climbing trees. I’m good at climbing trees now”. Aaren
“I used to not like it but now I play games with Frankie and Amelie. We can climb really high” Mila.
RACHELLE STEWART
Perspective, Connection, Change, Environment and Impact.
Throughout the Term, the Hive children have been exploring their natural environment and making new discoveries—many of which they wanted to record through art.
The children began to wonder how their surrounding environment may feel and asked questions such as.
“What would a flower say if it could talk?“
“Can flowers cry?“
"How does a flower feel?”
“How might it feel when we pick them?”
“How do they feel when we water or don’t water them?”
The central ideas and concepts from our Units of Inquiry, ‘Sharing the Planet’ and ‘Who we Are’ are linked perfectly with these interests, which you can see here.
We enjoyed exploring our ECC gardens and noticing the changes that were occurring. However, the curiosity to look beyond our gates was strong. We decided to go for a walk around the school and collect nature that we found interesting.
Using their observation skills, the children noticed the variety of textures, lines and shapes present in nature. They began developing representations of these through drawings and watercolour paintings. The educators wanted to extend the children’s skills further and asked an Artist who creates landscape paintings to come to visit and share her expertise.
Cath DeBoise, spent two sessions with us as an Artist in residence, teaching us skills in printing, painting, and collage. Cath and the class collaborated all the materials together to get a wide range of nature with different shapes and textures that could create a rich print. She provided a sequence of steps that encouraged the children to use of their fine motor skills to explore the natural print patterns with acrylic paints and dye. It was wonderful to observe the children exploring the techniques and becoming confident to share their ideas and processes with Cath and their peers.
The children created a range of works individually and a collaborative art piece that incorporated all the techniques learnt with Cath.
A collection of art pieces will be on display in the Minimbah office along with the Collaborative canvas, and please be sure to have a look and let us know what you think.
On behalf of The Hive children, Emma, Milly, and Heather would like to wish the Woodleigh community a happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas holiday break. We thank all our Hive families for their support and care throughout the year. It has been an honour to have spent this precious time with your children.
Thank you!
Foundation
The first year of primary school is a critical year of growth and change, and we are so proud of the Foundation 2023 children. They have become confident, capable Primary School students who are well-prepared for the learning journey ahead.
At the beginning of the year, we read the story ‘Our Class is a Family’ by Shannon Olsen and reflected on this story for our very first assembly. The story is written as a poem, and one of our favourite parts was-
So, if our classroom is the place where we spend our days,
why wouldn’t we make it like a home in many ways?
It’s a place we can show respect and kindness to each other,
a spot where we can be ourselves and make memories with one another.
We’ll have things in common,
These are the connections that we’ll seek.
But we will still celebrate our differences,
And what makes us each unique.
For our final class Messenger this year, I asked the children to reflect on their classroom ‘family’ and what they have learned about their classmates this year. I hope that you enjoy reading their reflections and take some time to celebrate this year with your child.
Sebastian is a good friend because he is great at playing with people and he is always nice to everyone and funny too. He tells us so much about cars because he is a car expert. He is a very, very good reader too.
We love that Lewis is really funny. He has funny jokes and cool actions. He is an awesome designer and maker, and he is really good at drawing. He is excellent at basketball too.
Peyton is so kind, and she always says nice things to people, and she always tries to help everyone in our class. She is a great singer and she is really good at music and drawing and gymnastics and aerobics.
We love that Teddy is really funny and he is really good at shooting hoops. He is so good at iPads and looking after babies. We like playing maths games with Teddy.
Austin is really funny, especially when making funny faces. He is good friend, and he helps you if you need help with hard work. He is very good at sports and numbers.
We love that Ezra is sporty and good at basketball. He asks if his friends are okay if they hurt themselves. He plays with boys and girls, and he is really kind.
Henni is really funny and makes crazy voices. She can even talk like a dolphin. She is really good at making cool things and maths. She makes awesome books and stories and is a good writer.
We love that Harvey likes animals and always tells us lots of cool stories about things. He always has good show and share at school. He is really good at monkey bars and rock climbing, and we will all remember going to Bayside Rock.
Aggie is kind. She helps people and plays with everyone. She is really good at gymnastics and doing bridges. She can even do warm-ups and the splits. Sometimes she is funny too.
Stevie is a caring friend who always helps people if they are hurt. We also love that she is kind and plays with everyone in our class. She is really helpful and does lots of jobs around our classroom.
We love that Flynn is really good at sports and running and a really good friend because if someone wants to play with him, he always says yes. He is really good at hula hoops. Flynn is so funny, and he makes us all laugh.
Joshua is funny, and he always smiles. He has great ideas and is super good at maths and basketball. He is really good at solving problems, like how many days it is until Christmas or what two really big numbers are when they are added together.
Lucy is really kind because she lets people play when they ask, and she is really smart at maths and reading. She always tries hard like learning to do the monkey bars this year. She didn't give up!
Isaac is very funny, knows a lot about dinosaurs and animals, and loves snakes. We love it when he shows us karate moves. He always wants to play and make cool stuff.
Maisy always checks on her friends to see if they are okay. She is really smart and has good ideas when we are playing. She is good at numbers and maths. She is also good at aerobics, and she is a great listener.
We love that Pearl is a kind friend who helps people when they are sad. She is good at maths games, and she is really fun to play with. She likes doing lots of jobs to help all of us.
Leo is funny and really fast. He is also good at basketball and helps his friends when we play. He is great at packing up and helping the teachers. He always offers to help.
Gemma is a really kind friend; she always offers to take people to the office or go to the toilet with them. She is also funny and makes really cool voices. She always helps everyone if they are hurt and says kind things.
Rose is a great friend because she helps people. She is so good at making things and creating beautiful pictures with lots of colours that go together. She plays with many people at school and includes people when they want to play.
Alfie is a good friend because he is helpful. He is really good at sports and basketball because he is really fast. He always wins our running races, and he is strong. He is kind and helps people when he can. He is fun to talk to.
Remi is funny because she does funny actions and voices. She asks if her friends are okay and checks what has happened if people are upset. She is really good at aerobics, gymnastics, and monkey bars. She has got really clever at reading too.
Dominic is good at basketball, and I like having him on our team. He is good at shooting goals. He is a good friend, and makes up good games at recess and lunchtime, like exploring and adventuring.
Thank you for being a part of our Classroom Family this year. We thank you all for your support and partnership and wish you a relaxing and safe break. See you in 2024!
Kind regards,
Jacqui, Jasmine & Rach
What have the Year 1 and 2 communities been up to lately?
As we near the end of another exciting unit of inquiry, we are thrilled to reflect on the journey our Year 1 and 2 students have undertaken in exploring 'How We Express Ourselves.' This unit has been a captivating exploration of emotions, creativity, and the powerful means through which we convey our feelings to the world.
Throughout the unit, the children delved into the fascinating world of expression, uncovering the ways in which emotions manifest through the elements of light, shadow, and sound.
Exploring light and shadow through hands-on activities and artistic expressions, our students have learned that shadows are not just silhouettes but reflections of emotion. Our learners have discovered the emotive power of music, rhythm, and spoken word. From creating their own musical compositions to exploring how different sounds evoke distinct emotions, the children have embarked on a sensory-rich exploration that has enhanced their appreciation for the role of sound in self-expression.
We are immensely proud of the growth and creativity displayed by our students throughout this unit. The depth of their reflections, the diversity of their creative projects, and the joy they've experienced in expressing themselves through light, shadow, and sound are truly commendable.
Literacy
Throughout the narrative writing unit, our students have explored the writing process. From crafting their characters to designing settings, their imagination has been awe-inspiring. We've witnessed adventures in faraway lands, encounters with fantastical creatures, and heartwarming tales that reflect the tender hearts within our classrooms. The growth we've seen in their ability to structure stories, use descriptive language, and build suspense is remarkable.
In the realm of poetry, our budding poets have explored the power of language to evoke emotions and paint vibrant pictures with words. They've experimented with various poetic forms, expressing their thoughts and feelings in unique ways.
Numeracy
In Years 1 and 2, I have dived into the world of money, learning not just the names and values of coins and notes but also how to make wise spending decisions. The children have gained a practical understanding of the importance of money in our daily lives.
Fractions can be tricky, but not for our Year 1 and 2 students! They've become masters at breaking down wholes into equal parts, exploring the concepts of halves, thirds, and quarters. From sharing snacks to dividing shapes, their hands-on experiences have solidified their grasp on the fundamental principles of fractions.
It’s been a great year of making connections and….sneaking in the learning EVERYWHERE! We wish you all a safe and happy holidays and look forward to seeing you all in 2024.
Best wishes,
Liane and Lexi
As teachers, there are certain moments during the year that stand out as highlight examples of learning and joy. The Assembly in Week 8 was a perfect example. Witnessing the Year 3s come together as a unified, efficient team to present their classroom experiences was truly heart-warming. Each student infused their unique character and personality into the planning, writing, and presenting of their learning journey.
The behind-the-scenes efforts were equally impressive. Students supported one another by rehearsing lines during recess, organising costumes for their peers, and even creating a ‘Jumanji’ logo during lunchtime club. Their dedication to refining poetry submissions and encapsulating their numeracy and literacy learning highlighted their commitment. The camaraderie and kindness displayed by each student contributed to making the Assembly a successful event at a bustling time of year, a feat that should fill them with pride.
I feel the students' personal accounts are excellent reflections on our learning, so included here are selected excerpts and slides from the Assembly here.
I reflect on this year with a blend of joy and nostalgia. This final term with your incredible children has been a journey of exploration, creativity, and growth.
Language
A focus of our language learning this term revolved around the enchanting world of poetry. Students delved into various forms, including haiku, nonsense, descriptive, and concrete poetry. This exploration was not just an exercise in language arts but a doorway to understanding deeper concepts. Each poetic form brought out unique aspects of expression, with haiku teaching brevity and the power of nature, nonsense poetry unlocking the fun in language, descriptive poetry enhancing observation skills, and concrete poetry merging visual art with the written word.
Unit of Inquiry
Linking seamlessly with our language lessons was our unit of inquiry, centred around the idea that people use nature as a source of creative inspiration. This unit saw our students engage deeply with the natural world, exploring how it fuels creativity. They used their newfound knowledge of poetry to express nature's influence, weaving words that painted pictures of the environment around us. Their understanding of the creative process was enhanced as they observed how nature could spark ideas, leading to beautiful, tangible outcomes. To connect this learning with the real world, students have been creating products inspired by nature to sell at the Arty Market, combining their learning from our language unit and our unit of inquiry.
Mathematics
Our mathematics sessions this term have been hands-on, lively and, again, linked to our broader unit of inquiry, as students learnt about symmetry and pattern and the mathematics that exists in nature. We ventured into the world of fractions and decimals, understanding equivalence, tenths, and hundredths. Students visualised these abstract concepts using concrete materials, linking them to real-world applications. Their enthusiasm peaked when we incorporated art into math, inspired by Ed Emberley's illustrations. These sessions demonstrated how mathematics is not just numbers and operations but a language that describes our world in beautiful patterns and relationships.
James Clapham
2023 is drawing to a close, yet the 5/6 Homestead is still humming with activity as we prepare for some significant end-of-year events. As we write this, the Year 6 Graduation is fast approaching on the 5th of December, and the Year 5 Art Gallery, The Archihairs, will be open on the afternoon of the 4th of December.
The entire Homestead engaged in the inquiry unit ‘How We Express Ourselves’ this term. It has taken us to the Archibald exhibition at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, immersed us in the art of writing poems and odes, made us smash plates, and allowed us to explore ourselves and our values creatively.
In amongst all this, we found time to escape to the country as we embarked on the Year 5/6 Homestead Camp at the Coonawarra Farm Resort. From flying across a lake on ziplines to descending into the mysterious Den of Nargun, we immersed ourselves in adventure, reflection, exertion, exhilaration, and, above all, fun!
Please enjoy this bumper edition of the Minimbah Homestead PODCAST created by Years 5 & 6 as they reflect on the final busy term of 2023.
For those returning next year, we can’t wait to see you again. For those journeying on from the familiar shores of Minimbah, we wish you safe travels and best wishes! Have a wonderful summer!
The Homestead Team
Jacqui, Jonno, Andy, Zara, Gabby, Jo & Georgy
This term saw Woodleigh School being represented by Minimbah students at the Primary School Chess Finals, held by Northern Star Chess.
Zone Primary School Open Chess Semi Final
On the 25th of October, the following Minimbah students – Harry M and Max (Year 4), Brodie, Daniel and Henry (Year 5) and Oscar (Year 6) attended Karingal to compete in the Zone Primary School Open Chess Semi-Final. 100 students gathered at Karingal Primary School to earn a place in the Grand Final over the seven rounds played across the day. The boys should be proud of their efforts on the day and their excellent sportsmanship, both on and off the board. Unfortunately, none of the boys qualified for the next stage, but the fire is fuelled for next year’s competition. They are to be congratulated on placing 9th in the team rankings out of twenty-one teams.
L-R - Daniel, Harry, Max, Tim from Northern Star Chess, Brodie, Henry & Oscar
Primary Girls’ Chess State Final
Two days on from the Open Semi-Final, Minimbah chess players were at it again. Amy (Year 5) and Ella and Kat (Year 6) travelled to Balwyn North to compete in the Primary Girls’ Chess State Final. Once again, 100 competitors arrived to battle it across the chess boards. The girls are to be commended on their efforts, with them placing 14th as a team out of forty-one teams and Ella being awarded the best player of the round in Round 4. Special thanks to Corinne, Ella’s mum, for being their Chess chaperone and chauffeur for the day. An excellent effort.
L- R - Amy, Kat and Ella
Special certificates from Northern Star Chess were awarded to these students during a recent assembly to celebrate their efforts.